How to Install JupyterLab on Windows VPS

Introduction

JupyterLab is an open-source web-based interactive development environment (IDE) for working with notebooks, code, and data. It is widely used by data scientists, researchers, and engineers for interactive computing. In this guide, we will show you how to install JupyterLab on a Windows VPS.

Prerequisites

Before you begin the installation, ensure you have the following:

• A Windows VPS with administrative privileges.
• Python 3.x installed on the system.
• Internet access to download required software.

Step 1: Install Python

JupyterLab requires Python 3.x, so the first step is to install Python if it’s not already installed on your Windows VPS.

1. Download the latest version of Python 3 from the official Python website: Python Downloads.
2. Run the installer and make sure to check the box that says “Add Python to PATH” before clicking “Install Now.”
3. Verify the installation by opening PowerShell and running:

python --version

If Python is installed correctly, it should display the version number.

Step 2: Install JupyterLab using pip

With Python installed, you can now install JupyterLab using pip, Python’s package manager.

1. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Upgrade pip to the latest version by running:

python -m pip install --upgrade pip

1. Install JupyterLab by running:

pip install jupyterlab

1. Wait for the installation to complete. This will install JupyterLab along with its dependencies.

Step 3: Launch JupyterLab

Once JupyterLab is installed, you can launch it on your Windows VPS by following these steps:

1. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2. Run the following command to start JupyterLab:

jupyter lab

1. This command will start the JupyterLab server and automatically open it in your default web browser at http://localhost:8888.

Step 4: Access JupyterLab Remotely

If you’re using a remote Windows VPS and want to access JupyterLab from another device, you’ll need to allow external connections. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the jupyter_notebook_config.py file. If it doesn’t exist, create it by running:

jupyter notebook --generate-config

1. Open the config file located in C:\Users\\.jupyter\jupyter_notebook_config.py in a text editor.
2. Find and modify the following settings:

c.NotebookApp.ip = '0.0.0.0'

c.NotebookApp.open_browser = False

c.NotebookApp.port = 8888

1. Save the changes and restart JupyterLab by running:

jupyter lab

1. Now, you can access JupyterLab remotely using the IP address of your Windows VPS, e.g., http://:8888.

Step 5: Set a Password (Optional)

For added security, it is recommended to set a password for JupyterLab. To set a password:

1. Run the following command to generate a password hash:

python -c "from notebook.auth import passwd; print(passwd())"

1. Copy the generated hash and open the jupyter_notebook_config.py file again.
2. Find and modify the following line to include your password hash:

c.NotebookApp.password = ''

1. Save the changes and restart JupyterLab.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed JupyterLab on your Windows VPS. You can now start using JupyterLab to work with notebooks, run code, and visualize data. JupyterLab is a powerful tool for data scientists and developers, and with it running on your Windows VPS, you have a flexible environment for remote development and analysis.